Post-hole-digging machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. CRAWFORD.

POST HOLEDIGGING MACHINE.

No. 280,585. Patented July 3, 1883.

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(No Model.) 2 SI 1eetsSheet 2.

-B. CRAWFORD. 7 POST HOLE DIGGING MACHINE.

No. 280,585. Patented July 3, 1883.

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proved machine for digging post-holes.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURTON ORAWVFORD, OF CROSS ROADS, OHIO.

POST-HOLOE-DIGGINLG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,585, dated July '3,1883.

Application filed May 9, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BURTON CRAWFORD, of Cross Roads, in the county ofMadison and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Post-Hole-Digging Machines; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of my im- Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig.3 is a sectional detail view through a part of the auger shaft with its"collar and collar-catch; and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views,respectively, of the catch in the top part of the frame, and of thelever and eccentric for operating the rackbar.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

My invention has relation to apparatus for digging post-holes; and itconsists in the detailed construction and combination of parts of amachine of that class, as hereinafter more fully set forth, having forits object to bore a hole of any desired depth by the exertion of aminimum of power, and also to provide for the easy extraction of theauger from the hole.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, A indicates a verticalframe, which has ways a, and is fixed upon a truck, B, having wheels 0and tongue D. At the lowerend of one of the side pieces of frame A ispivoted upon a bolt, 6, the rack-bar E, which has an enlargement, F,through which is inserted the eccentric G, which is provided with ahandle, 9, for turning it. The eccentric G and rackbar E are so arrangedrelative to each other that by turning the handle 9 the rack-bar may bemoved forward or back, so as to throw it into or out of gear with thegear-wheel H of the sliding frame I. The latter is by preference of theshape shown in the drawings, bent at its upper end to form an arch, J,adapted to engage the spring-catch K, which is secured in the topcross-bar of the frame A and operated by a handle, k. By moving thishandle forward in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4,

the catch or hook at its lower end is withdrawn from frame I J, so thatthis is allowed to drop in position for operating the machine. The sidesI of the sliding frame I J is provided with lugs or catches a, which fitinto the grooved ways a in the sides of frame A.

L is a collar, which turns in bearings Z Z in the cross-bars of thesliding frame. This collar has a springcatch, M, which is adapted toengage holes a in the auger-shaft N, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, so that by disengaging the catch from the auger-shaftframe I J, with its appurtenances, may be moved up or down upon shaft N.

The mechanism for rotating the auger-shaft consists of the drive-wheelH, which is operated by a crank, h, and meshes with the bevelpinion O,fixed upon the top of collar L. To facilitate the operation of themachine I use a fly-wheel, P, having a bevel-wheel, p, which also mesheswith pinion O.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the operation of my machine will readily be understood .with outrequiring extended explanation.

In moving the machine from place to place, the sliding frame I J issuspended upon the spring-catch K at the upper end of the fixed frame A.

WVhen it is desired to use the machine, the auger-shaft N (which may beprovided with an anger of any approved construction) isinserted intocollar L, and held in place therein by means of the spring-catch M. Theframe is then lowered by releasing it from the catch orhook K, when ofits own weight it will fall down, so as to bring the auger in contactwith the ground, when the hole is started by turning crank h. After ahole about one foot in depth has been bored, collar L is released toengage the teeth of the drive-wheel H, when,

by turning crank 71, the anger is lifted out of the hole.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States- The combination, in a machine fordigging post-holes, of the fixed frame A, mounted upon the truck 13, andhaving grooved ways a, rack-bar E, pivoted at the lower end of theframe, eccentric G, adapted to throw the rackbar forward and back,spring-catch K, secured in the upper part of the fixed frame, slidingframe I J, having guide-lugs i and bearings I I, collar L, havingspring-catch M and bevel-pinion O, drive-wheel H, having crank 71,baianee-whec1 P, having beve1-pinion 1), and auger-shaft N, providedwith a se ries of apertures, n, the whole constructed and combined tooperate substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein shown andset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BURTON CRAWFORD.

Witnesses:

\VILLLUI WILLLuIsoN, dnNJ'AMIN CARSON.

